Good morning! Today, we take a look at how the massive use of antibiotics could create a “superbug” among Brazilian livestock herds. The impasse around Lula’s freedom. The new U.S. ambassador to Brazil. And the most profitable investments in Brazilian markets this year.
The threat of a “superbug” to Brazilian herds
The presence of germs and bacteria highly resistant to antibiotics in livestock has reached worrisome levels in several developing nations—including the South and Southeast regions of Brazil. That is according to the first major survey on the issue.
A team of researchers analyzed 901 global studies reporting antimicrobial resistance over the past two decades—which help identify some trends.
Why it matters. The study reveals a silent—but growing—health hazard for herds, as well as for those who consume meat and dairy products. And that affects a lot of people. In 2017 alone, the world consumed 330 million tons of beef.
How did we get here? The problem (which is not exclusive to Brazil) is directly linked to the excessive use of antibiotics by meat producers. As a cost-saving measure, they frequently use antibiotics to not only treat detected infections, but also as a disease-prevention method. That avoids many costs with...